Charleston Southern University’s baseball team began its 2026 season with a sweep of Bucknell in a Saturday doubleheader, marking the first time since 2015 that the Buccaneers have won all games during their opening weekend.
In the first game, Kain Collins tied the school’s single-game record by stealing four bases. The Buccaneers kept Bucknell scoreless for six innings while building a 6-0 lead. Lucas Pringle started the scoring with a sacrifice fly, and Collins scored again in the third inning on a throwing error. Pringle also reached home after a failed pickoff attempt, and Alex Marot scored on a wild pitch later in the inning. Additional runs came from Gabe Gutter’s RBI double and Blake Edgmon’s RBI single in the sixth.
Bucknell managed one run with a sacrifice flyout in the seventh inning. Charleston Southern responded by scoring five more runs in the eighth, ending the game at 11-1 due to run rule conditions. Marot led with three hits; Collins, Wolfley, and Edgmon each had two hits. The team drew nine walks and was hit by pitches three times.
Brady Bickett started for Charleston Southern, pitching 4.2 shutout innings and allowing only one hit while striking out four batters. Jack Bunnell provided relief, pitching 3.1 innings with six strikeouts and giving up one earned run.
In game two, Bucknell took an early lead with Garrison Bullock’s solo home run. The Buccaneers quickly answered with four runs in their half of the first inning—highlighted by John Emendorfer’s sacrifice fly and Collins’ two-RBI double. Caden Wolfley added an RBI single to cap off the frame.
Garrett Mathias narrowed Bucknell’s deficit with a two-run homer in the fourth inning, but Charleston Southern responded when Collins reached third on an error and scored on Tuupo’s sacrifice fly. Bucknell added runs in both the fifth and ninth innings but could not close the gap; Charleston Southern secured an 8-5 victory.
Collins led offensively with three hits and three RBIs in game two. Ethan Reader contributed two hits during his debut for Charleston Southern.
On the mound, five pitchers were used by Charleston Southern—three making their debuts for the team. Matt Gallant earned the win as starter, recording five strikeouts over 3.2 innings pitched. Hunter Porter allowed one hit and struck out three batters over 1.1 innings; Drew Dawson pitched two scoreless frames with four strikeouts; Corbin Payne struck out all three batters he faced in the eighth; Hayden Henry closed out by striking out two more hitters in the ninth inning. The staff matched its program record for most strikeouts (17) in a Division I game.
The Buccaneers will play next at North Florida on Tuesday, February 17 at 6 p.m.
